Can aligner



y 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ETAL 2,324,246

CAN ALIGNER Filed May 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 ALBERT R. THOMPSON EDWARD G BAUER y 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ETAL CAN ALIGNER Filed May 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 13, 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ETAL 2,324,246

CAN ALIGNER Filed May 21., 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Sheets Sheet 4 gwuwvbm ALBERT 1? THOMPSON [on 400 G BAl/[R A. R. THOMPSON ET AL CAN ALIGNER Filed May 21, 1941 July 13, 1943.

Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTIOFFICE CAN ALIGNER Albert R. Thompson, Los Gatos, CaliL, and Edward G. Bauer, Hoopeston, 111., minors to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1941, Serial No. 394,500

The present invention appertains to a machine for handling cans or similar objects and relates more particularly to an improved can aligning machine for arranging sanitary cans in a desired order.

One object of the present invention is to provide a can aligning machine which comprises an improved can aligning mechanism for rearranging the component parts of a promiscuous mass of cans or similar objects into a desired order.

Another object is to provide a can aligning machine which comprises means for maintaining the arranged cans in a predetermined order and for discharging the same in an orderly rolling procession from the machine.

Another object is to provide a can aligning machine of simple, inexpensive construction and efficient operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a portion of the machine taken along lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a portion of Q the machine taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3 and :llustrating a can in position ready for discharge.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5 taken along lines 6-6 of the same.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section through the discharge mechanism of the machine taken along lines 1-1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of certain spring fingers employed in the present machine illustrating the construction and mounting of the same.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a portion of the can table and several cans supported thereby in various positions they may as sume during the operation of the machine.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of a guide rail and separating rod associated therewith illustrating the mode of transfer of a can from the side rails upon the separating rods.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1 and 2, I designates the frame structure of the machine which comprises front legs 2 and 3 and rear legs 4 and 5. Interposed between the front and rear legs of each side of the machine are upper and lower longitudinal frame members 6 and I, respectively, and diagonally extending brace members 8 and 9, while upper and lower transverse frame members I I and I 2, respectively, are employed for connecting the legs on opposite sides of th machine so as to form a rigid frame structure, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 1.

Disposed within the upper portion of the frame structure I is a can table I5 comprising abottom I6, side walls I! and I8, and an end wall I9. The front portion of the bottom I6 of the table I5 is flat, while the middle and rear portions thereof are curved in a downwarddirection in such a manner that the downward inclination of the bottom of the can table progressively increases toward the rear end of the same. However, if desired the middle and rear portions of the can table bottom may be made from a series of flat sections, each having a greater incline than the preceding one, so that a can tabl of progressively increasing slope is obtained.

The can table I5 is movably mounted in a rearward, downwardly inclined position within the frame structure I by means of bearing blocks 2| and 22 secured to the side walls I! and I8 adjacent the bottom I6 of the table by means of flanges Ila. and Illa and supporting rolls 23 and 24 rotatably mounted to the inner sides of the legs ,2, 3 and 4, 5, respectively, by stud bolts 25. The bearing blocks 2 I, 22 are provided with horizontal surfaces 26 and 21, respectively, to permit back and forth movement of the table in a horizontal plane.

Positioned upon the can table I5 and welded to the bottom I6 of the same are a plurality of angle irons or guide rails 35 arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other, and extending longitudinally of the machine, "so as to form in conjunction with the bottom I6 a plurality of troughs or guide channels 36 having inclined side walls 36a and 36b (see Figs. 3 and 4). These inclined side Walls are spaced from each other at their longitudinal base edges a distance slightly less than the flange diameter of the cans so that the cans,'as shown at a and b in Fig. 9, cannot stand on end within the channels because they are supported inaan unstable manner by the same. However, the channels are of sufiicient width to receive the cans lengthwise therein without wedging the cans between the inclined side walls 36a and 36b so as to permit free travel of the cans along the channels 36, as illustrated at c in Fig. 9. The rear ends 31 of the guide rails 35 extend a considerable distance beyond the rear end of the table I5 for purposes to be described later on, while the front ends thereof terminate a considerable distance ahead of the front end of the can table I5,

Secured to the bottom I8 of the can table a d interposed between the front ends of the guide rails 85 and the end wall I8 is a flat wooden floor 88. Attached to the rear end of the floor at 88 and the upper portion of the end wall I8 in a downwardly inclined position is an apron l8 made of flexible material such as rubber belting or the like, for cushioning the impact of cans discharged upon the can table I5 by means of an elevator l I.

Attached to the flange I8a is a downwardly extending bearing bracket 85 and pivotally secur d to the same at 46 is a pitman 41. The pitman 41 is provided with a bearing portion 48 within which a disc 88 eccentrically mounted on a shaft 58 is rotatably received, so that upon rotation of the shaft 58 and disc 48 the can table I5 is rapidly reciprocated longitudinally with respect to the frame I.

The shaft 58 is rotatably mounted within bearings 5|, 52 secured tothe front legs 2 and 8, respectively. Rotatably mounted upon the free end 58 of the shaft 58, which extends beyond the bearing 52 exterior of the frame structure I, is

a belt pulley 54, and interposed between the same and shaft portion 58 is a clutch mechanism 55 for connecting the belt pulley 54 with the shaft 58 for rotation therewith. Mounted upon the lower longitudinal frame members 1 by means of transverse bars 56, 51 and bolts 58 is an electric motor 58 provided with a drive pulley 68.

Positioned at the front end of the machine is an elevator structure 8| of conventional construction which comprises a frame 65 and endless conveyor chains 66 provided with transverse bar 61 adapted to travel along a support 68. The endless chains 66 are trained around opposite pairs of sprocket wheels at the forward and rear ends of the elevator structure ll in well known manner, only the sprocket wheels 68 and 18 at the rear end of the elevator structur being shown in Figs. 1 and 2., Interposed between the frame structure 65 of the elevator 4| and the frame structure I of the can alignin machine are horizontal frame members 1I and 12 for securing the frames I and 65 together to thereby maintain the elevator structure ll in proper position with respect to th can aligning machine. I

Rotatably mounted at the lower portion of the frame structure 65 within bearings 15 and 16 is a shaft 11 provided with a belt pulley 18 and a sprocket wheel 18 which are both fixed to shaft 11 in any convenient manner. Trained around the sprocket wheel 18 and a sprocket wheel 88 keyed to a shaft 82 rotatably mounted by means of bearings 88 to the frame structure 65 is a sprocket chain 84. Keyed to the shaft 82 is a sprocket wheel 85 which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 86 with a sprocket wheel 81 fixed to a shaft 88. The shaft 88 is rotatably mounted within bearings 88 attached to the upper portion of the frame structure 65 and fixed upon the same are the sprocket wheels 68 and 18 previously referred to.

Trained around the pulleys 68 and 18 is a drive belt 8I while a drive belt 82 is trained around the pulley 54 and a pulley 88 fixed to the free end of the shaft 11 extending exterior of the frame 65 of the elevator 4| (see Fig. 3).

From the above it will therefore be seen that upon operation of the motor 58 the elevator II will be operated, and the table I5 will be conrods is associated with each guide rail and tinuously reciprocated when the clutch 55, previously referred to, is engaged so as to transfer rotation of the pulley 54 to the transverse shaft 58.

Attached to the apex portion of every other.

guide rail 85 near the front end of the table I5 are stationary can aligning wires or rods 85 of inverted U shaped configuration. The can aligning rods 85 comprise short leg 85a and 85b welded or otherwise secured to the apex of the guide rails 85 and extending at right angles above the same. The upper ends of the legs are curved, gradually leading intoa horizontal portion 88 disposed in spaced relation parallel to the guide rails 85 and extending a considerable distance over the same (see Fig. 2).

Secured to the apex portion of each one of the guide rails 85 near the discharge end of the table I5 are flexible inverted U shaped can aligning, fingers or springs 81. The springs 81 project at right angles a considerable distance above the guide rails 85 and are arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other (see Figs. 2, 3 and 8). front leg 88 and 88, respectively, and a curved upper portion I88 intermediate the same. The rear legs 88 are rigidly secured to the apex portion of the guide rails 85 while the lower ends of the legs 88 are free and extend into longitudinal slots I8I in the apex portions of the guide rails 85 and are freely movable therein, so that the springs 81 may be compressed and may yield in addition to their inherent resiliency.

Interposed between the can aligning rods 85 and springs 81 are can tilting fingers or springs I82 secured in staggered relation to the apex portions of the guide rails 85 and extending in rearwardly inclined position above the same. These can tilting springs are of inverted U shaped configuration and comprise rear and front legs I88 and I88, respectively, and an upper curved portion I8la intermediate the same. The lower ends of the rear legs I88 are fixed to the apex portions of the guide rails 85, while the lower ends of the frontlegs I84 extend into longitudinal slots I85 in the apex portions of the guide rails 35 and are freely movable therein, so that the tilting fingers may be compressed and may yield in addition to their inherent resiliency.

The springs 81 and I82 may be preferably made from steel wire or flat spring metal. In either case the slots IN and I85 must be of sufficient width and length to permit free hack and forth movement of th legs 88 and I84 when a can strikes the same.

Mounted adjacent the rear end of the can table I5 is a discharge mechanism II8 which consists of a plurality of stationary separating rods III and a discharge chute unit II2 associated therewith. These separating rods are mounted below the ends 31 of the guide rails 85 projecting beyond th end of the can table I5. One of these an auxiliary frame structure H5 is provided for mounting the same in a stationary and downwardly inclined position within the guide rails 35 below and closely spaced to the apex portion of the same.

The auxiliary frame structure II5 comprises brace members 511 and I I5!) secured with their front ends by means of screws II5c or the like to the rear legs I and 5 respectively (see Figs. 1 and 2). Interposed between the rear ends of the brace members HM and H5!) and welded or The springs 81 consist of rear and otherwise secured thereto is a bar II d extending transversely of the machine-below the guide rails 31 adjacent the rear ends thereof. Welded to the transverse stationary bar I I5d and extending upwardly therefrom at right angles with respect to the rails 31 are rod supporting blocks H5), each provided with an opening 59 within which the front end of the separating rods III are received. The front endsof the separating rods are of reduced diameter as indicated at II la in Figs. 5 and 6 to permit their insertion into the openings II5g. Set screws III b threadedly mounted within the transverse bar 5:! and blocks 5! are adapted to secure the rods III within the block I I5}. The shoulder I I Ic formed between the section I I Ia and the remaining portion of each rod assures a proper aligning of the separating rods and the grooves I2I and I22 thereof.

The rear ends of the separating rods III are secured to a baflle plate II6 which in turn is attached to the rear wall II! of the discharge chute unit II2 by means of a bracket H8 in any convenient manner. The discharge chute unit II2 comprises further a front wall II9 rigidly secured by means of a bracket I20 to the auxiliary frame structure I I5 previously referred to.

Each separating rod. a detail of which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is provided with grooves HI and I22 which are arranged and spaced in such a manner as to receive the flanges of a sanitary can therein. The groove I22 of each separating rod is positioned adjacent the baille plate II6, while the groove I2I of each separating rod is located a sufficient distance beyond the rear end of'the guide rails 35 so that this groove will not be obstructed thereby during reciprocation of the can table I5.

The separating rods of adjacent guide rails 35 are spaced a slightly.greater distance from each other than the diameter of the body portion of the can, designated A in Figs. 5 and 6, but are spaced a lesser distance than the diameter'of the flanges B of the can, so that a can will be supported therebetween, unless the can flanges B register with the grooves. The depth of the grooves I2I and I22 is such that the spacing between the bottoms of the grooves of adjacent separating rods III is slightly greater than the diameter of the can flanges, so that when a can, such as can A in Fig. 6, is positioned between adjacent separating rods and the flanges B thereof are in registration with the grooves HI and I22 the can may drop downward therebetween into the discharge chute unit I I2 positioned therebeneath.

The front and rear walls H9 and Ill, respectively, of the discharge chute unit II2 are spaced with respect to each other, a distance slightly greater than the length of the cans by means of spacing rods I23.

Secured to the front and rear walls of the discharge chute unit II2 are a plurality of curved chute rails I24 and I25, respectively, disposed in cooperating relation opposite each other so as to form in connection with the walls II 9 and II I a plurality of individual discharge chutes I30, leading from each space between adjacent cooperating spacing rods I I I to a common exit I3I at the discharge end of the chute um't H2. The curved rails I24 and I25 (see Figs. 2, 3 and 7) are of various lengths and so arranged that, as seen in Fig. 7, the cans will be'discharged from the rails of one chute upon the rails of the next chute below the discharge end of the same'until all cans 3 have been deposited upon the lowermost rails I24 and I25 at I26 near the common exit I3I previously referred to, where they are discharged from the machine into a can'conveyor or the like.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The cans A to be aligned are dumped in a jumbled mass onto the lower end of the support 68 of the elevator 4| (see Fig. 3) and are elevated by the transverse bars 61 of the elevator 4| and deposited upon the table I5. The apron 40 positioned at the receiving end of the table I5 cushions the fall of the cans to prevent denting or other damage to the same. The cans received upon the continuously reciprocating table I5 are thereupon advanced from the receiving end toward the discharge end of the same due to the inclination of the table I5 and rapid reciprocation thereof.

A great number of cans will enter the guide ways or channels 36 in a proper position, i. e.. with their axes parallel to the channels 36. as shown at C in Fig. 3. However, many of the cans will remain in angular or transverse disposition with respect to these channels, as shown at D. As the cans continue their advance from the receiving toward the discharge end of the can table I5 some of the cans such as shown at D not initially aligned with and received within the guide channels 36 strike against the stationary rods 95 and are turned thereby into properly aligned position with respect to the channels 36 and fall into the same, as illustrated at E in Fig. 3. Any cans remaining in disaligned position, that is, angularly disposed with respect to the guide channels 36, as shown at F and G, strike against the can tilting springs I02 during their further travel toward the discharge end of the can table I5.

, These springs are arranged in staggered relation upon the can table I5 as previously described herein, so that the same will not interfere with the free turning of the cans into aligned position with the channels 36.

When the disaligned cans strike the leg portions I04 of the can tilting springs I02 the kinetic energy of the advancing cans flexes the leg portions I04 backwardly toward the leg portions I03 and thereby compresses the springs I02, whereby the impact of the cans against the can tilting springs is cushioned and damage to the cans is prevented. Thereupon the legs I04 flex back,

i. e. recoil, into their original position and exert a; kick against the cans in contact therewith so that the cans bounce back and a considerable number of the same are thereby straightened, i. e. deposited ihto the guide channels 36 with their axes parallel to the same.

The magnitude of the force of recoil of the springs I02 is dependent upon the amount of compression of the springs I02 caused by the force of impact between the cans and the springs.

The magnitude of the force of impact between the cans and springs, however, varies, depending largely upon the direction of travel of the springs at the moment the cans strike the same. Sometimes it will therefore happen that when a number of cans in sidewise engagement accumulate in front of the spring fingers I02 and contact the same, as shown at' G in Fig. 3, while the cans are moving in the same direction with said fingers, the compression of the springs will be slight and the force of recoil insufficient to bounce the accumulated cans backwardly.

In such case the first can of such accumulation in contact with the legs I04 of the can tilting springs I02 rides upwardly on said legs I04,

as shown at H in 1"ig.'2. due to their rearward inclination with respect to the table II. The first can is thereby liftedand tilted and placed on end within the guide channels 30. This operation repeats with respect to each can of such accumulation until the same has been broken up and all cans have been separated from each other.

The cans placed on end in the manner as described above are supported by the side walls 30a and 30b of the guide rails 33 in an unstable manner and will therefore tip over and fall sidewise into the channels 36 with their axes parallel to the same. as shown at I in Fig. 3. However, many cans will tip over and fall with one end thereof between the leg portions I03 and III of the can tilting fingers I02 in a manner as shown at K in Fig. 2, and will be pushed into a position parallel to the guide channels 36 by means of the leg portions I03 which engage the flange K of the can K. However, certain cans may not be properly aligned at this point, and fall back into an angular position with respect to the guide channels 36 after they have passed the can tilting fingers I02. It should be observed, however, that while not all cans may be aligned by the can tilting fingers I02, any accumulation of cans in front of the same is broken up thereby.

During further travel of the cans from the zone of the can tilting fingers I02 toward the discharge end of the table I5 any contact between the individual cans or any accumulation thereof is effectively prevented, due to the fact that the bottom of the table inclusive of the guide rails 35 is curved in a downward direction in such a manner that the rate of travel of the cans is progressively accelerated during their advancement toward the discharge end of the can table of the machine. Thereby a wide separation of the individual cans during their travel over the remaining portion of the can table I5 is obtained and sufficient space is provided between the cans for a final turning and alignment of any cans which are still in an angular position with respect to the guide channels 36.

While the cans travel in this manner toward the discharge end of the can table I5 any cans still disaligned, such as can L in Fig. 3, are engaged by the can aligning springs 91. The legs 99 of these springs, as previously stated herein, are disposed at right angles with respect to the bottom of the can table I5 and are freely movable in a manner similar to the legs I03 of the spring fingers IOI. When the disaligned cans strike the legs 99 of the springs 91 the same are flexed backward and compressed under the impact of the cans against the same. Thereupon the legs 99 flex back to their original position exerting a kick against the cans whereby the same are bounced backward and turned into proper aligned position, i. e. in such position that their axes are parallel to the guide channels and the cans are received therein.

All cans are now in properly aligned position within the guide channels 30 and proceed toward the discharge end of the same. At the rear end of the table the cans are solely supported and guided by the guide rails and finally slide upon the separating rods I I I.

It has been stated heretofore that the rear ends of the guide rails extend over the separating rods I II but are of such length that they will not obstruct the grooves I2I of the same during reciprocation of the can table I5. Furthermore,

the rear ends of the guide rails 35 are so positioned with respect to the grooves I2I that the A leading end of a can sliding in the guide channel 36 formed by, adjacent guide rails 30 is so held and supported by the same that during advancement of'the can toward and upon the separating rods III the flangeIB' (see Fig. 10) at the leading end of the can is prevented from entering the grooves I2I. In other words, the flange at the leading end of the can is held out of contact with the separating rods until said flange has passed the grooves I2I. Thereupon the can is allowed to tip over so that its flange at the leading end will contact the separating rods somewhere in the region between the grooves I2I and I22.

The reciprocatory movement of the can table I5 finally causes transfer of the can from the guide rails 35 upon the separating rods III and due to their inclined position the can will slide along the same until the leading end thereof contacts the bailie plate H0 and further forward movement of the can is arrested. At this time the flanges of the can at both ends thereof are in registration with the grooves I2I and I22. In view of the fact that the bottoms of the grooves HI and I 2". of adjacent separating rods are spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the flanges of the can and the remaining portions of the separating rods are spaced a distance greater than the diameter of the body portion of the can, the can is no longer supported and drops downwardly between the separating rods II I into the discharge chute unit II 2 and into the individual can chutes I30 formed by the guide rails I24 and I25 in conjunction with the front and rear walls I I9 and Ill, respectively, of the discharge chute unit I I2.

In other words, the cans from each guide channel 36 and the separating rods cooperating therewith are directed into individual discharge chutes I30 by the combined action of the separating rods III and bafile plate H6. Due to the inclination of the baffle plate H6 and the connection thereof with the rear wall I" of the discharge chute unit II2, forming a continuous guide wall therewith, the cans are tilted from a slightly inclined position into a horizontal position while they enter the chutes I30. The ends of the cans are closely spaced with respect to the front and rear walls H9 and Ill respectively, so that a disalignment of the cans is impossible while the same are falling into the chutes I30 and are being discharged from the machine.

Each can received by one of the guide chutes I30 rolls along the same and is directed toward a common exit I3I.

In other words, a can deposited in the left hand guide chute I30 (see Fig. 7) will roll along this chute and will be discharged at I3I, while cans deposited into any of the remaining guide chutes I30 will roll out of the same at the rear ends thereof and drop upon the next chute below the same and travel downwardly from chute to chute until they reach portion I26 of the lowermost guide chute I30, which discharges all cans in a rolling procession in properly aligned position and in a single file at the common exit from the machine.

The employment of the elevator conveyor ll is optional, and if desired the cans to be aligned may be directly dumped upon the apron 40 either manually or in any other desired manner. In such case the pulleys I0 and 93 may be preferably mounted upon a shaft rotatably mounted within bearings secured to the front legs 2 and 3 of the machine so that the entire mechanism of the elevator ll may be eliminated.

While we have described a particular embodiment or the present invention, itwill be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A can aligning machine comprising a downwardlyxcurved can table provided with a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans deposited thereon over said table, and can aligning means adjacent said guide channels for arranging said cans with their axes parallel to said channels and for depositing the same therein, the curvature of said table'being of substantially progressively increasing slope such that the advancement of the cans over the table is progressively accelerated to thereby separate the cans with respect to each other.

2. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can table provided with a plurality of guide channels, means for longitudinally reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, andaligning means adjacent said guide channels cooperating with the table for arranging the cans with their axes parallel to said channels, the inclination of said table being of substantially progressively increasing slope such that the rate of travel of the cans is progressively accelerated to thereby separate the cans with respect to each other.

3. A can aligning machine comprising a curved can table provided with a plurality of guide channels, a plurality of can aligning springs on said table intermediate said channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same whereby cans lying crosswise of said channels and striking the springs are straightened and deposited into said channels, the curvature of the table being such that the rate of travel of the cans over said table is progressively accelerated to thereby separate the cans with respect to each other.

4. In a can aligning machine a discharge device for transferring cans from an end to end position to a rolling procession comprising spaced bars having a portion thereof spaced apart a distance less than the flange diameter of the cans and greater than the body diameter of the cans and another portion spaced apart a greater distance than the flange diameter of the cans, whereby cans supported by said bars and advancing along the same will drop from between the same at a predetermined point.

5. A can aligning machine comprising a table over which cans are advanced, said table being provided with troughs, grooved rods forming continuations of said troughs for supporting the cans received form said table and for discharging the cans from said rods when the flanges thereof are in alignment with said grooves.

6. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined table, over which cans are advanced, said table being provided with guide channels for guiding the cans therealong, grooved rods forming continuations of said channels arranged to support the cans received thereby from said table and tor discharging the cans downwardly there- 5 between upon registration of the flanges oi the cans with said grooves.

7. A can aligning machine comprising a can table over which cans are advanced, said table being provided with longitudinally extending troughs for receiving the. cans longitudinally therein, rods associated with said troughs and spaced with respect to each other a distance less than the diameter of the body portion 01. the cans, said rods forming continuations of said troughs for supporting the cans received thereby from said troughs, adjacent rods being provided with opposing pairs of grooves for receiving the flanges of the cans supported thereby, the bottom portions of opposing grooves being spaced a distance greater than the flange diameter of the cans, whereby upon registration of the flanges of the cans with the grooves the cans drop downwardly between said rods.

8. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can table provided with a plurality of guide channels, flexible can aligning means on said table intermediate said channels and arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other, and means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over said table, whereby cans lying crosswise of said channels strike against said flexible means and are bounced back by the same and thereby straightened and deposited into said channels with the axes parallel to the same.

9. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can table provided with a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans along the same, can tilting means on said table inclined in the direction of travel of the cans for separating cans lying across said channels in sidewise contact with each other, and can aligning springs on said table intermediate said channels for aligning the separated cans and positioning the same into said channels with their axes parallel to the same.

10. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table having a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans along the same, means for aligning the cans and for positioning the same into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, a can discharge chute,stationary means associated with said chute and table forming a continuation of said guide channels for receiving the aligned cans and for releasing the same at a predetermined point above the discharge chute, and baflle means for engaging the released cans and for guiding the same into said discharge chute.

11. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table, a plurality of spaced guide rails on said table and extending beyond the same forming can receiving channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans along the same, means for aligning the cans and for positioning the same into said can receiving channels with their axes parallel to the same, a can discharge chute, and stationary means associated with the guide rails and forming a continuation of the same for receiving the aligned cans and for depositing the same in predetermined position into said discharge chute.

12. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table having a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans along the same,

means for aligning the cans and for positioning the same into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, a can discharge chute, and stationary means associated with said chute and table forming a continuation of said guide channels for receiving the cans therefrom and for maintaining the same in aligned position, said stationary means being so constructed and arranged that the cans received upon the same are guided therealong and discharged therefrom into said chute at a predetermined point.

13. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table having a plurality of parallel guide channels, means for reciprocating the table for advancing the cans supported thereby along the same, means for aligning the cans to cause them to fall into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, a plurality of can chutes associated with said guide channels, and slotted guide means interposed between said channels and chutes for directing the cans from each channel to above a corresponding chute and into said chute.

14. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table having a plurality of parallel guide channels, means for reciprocating the table for advancing the cans supported thereby along the same, means for aligning the cans to cause them to fall into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, a plurality of superposed can chutes leading from said channels to a common exit for assembling the cans received thereby in a single flle and for discharging the same from said exit, and means interposed between said channels and chutes for directing the cans from each channel into a corresponding chute. 15. A can aligning machine comprising a can supporting table having a plurality of guide chan- V nels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, and means for aligning the cans, said can aligning means comprising a flexible portion freely movable with respect to said table and adapted to flex under the force of the kinetic energy of the cans striking the same and to subsequently recoil to their original position causing backward bouncing of the cans to thereby align the same with their axes parallel to said channels and deposit them therein.

16. A can aligning machine comprising a can supporting table having a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, and a plurality of U shaped springs for aligning said cans, each of said springs having one end thereof fixed to said table and the other end freely movable with respect to the same and facing the advancing cans, whereby the cans striking the freely movable, ends of the springs compress the same and are caused to rebound upon recoil of said springs.

17. A can aligning machine comprising a can supporting table having a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, and a plurality of U shaped springs mounted on said table and extending at right angles above the same for aligning said cans, each of said springs having one end thereof fixed to said table and the other end freely movable with respect to the same and facing the advancing cans, whereby the cans striking the freely movable ends of the springs compress the same and are, caused to rebound upon recoil of said springs.

18. A can aligning machine comprising a can supporting table provided with a plurality of guide channels,- means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, means for aligning the cans advancing over said table and for depositing the same into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, and spaced means forming a continuation oi" said channels for supporting the aligned cans therebetween, said spaced means being provided with opposing pairs of grooves for releasing the cans upon registration of the flanges of the cans with said grooves.

19. A can aligning machine co'mprising'a can supporting table provided with a plurality of guide channels, means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same, means for aligning the cans advancing over said table and for depositing the same into said channels with their axes parallel to the same, and stationary means forming a continuation of said channels for receiving the aligned cans therebetween and for supporting the same, said stationary means being spaced with respect to each other a distance less than the flange diameter of cans but a distance larger than the diameter of the body portion of the cans and having opposing pairs of grooves the bottoms of which are spaced a distance greater than the flange diameter of each can, whereby upon registration of the flanges of the cans with said grooves the cans are released from said stationary means.

. 20. A can aligning machine comprising an inclined can supporting table having a plurality of rails spaced apart to provide substantially parallel guide channels for the cans, a plurality of can shifting members and a plurality of can tilting springs projecting from said rails adjacent said channels, and means for reciprocating said table for advancing the cans over the same along said channels whereby cans lying crosswise with respect to said channels will strike certain of said can shifting members and can tilting springs and be straightened and shifted into said channels with their axes paralleling the same, said can shifting members being substantially immovable when cans strike the same and said can tilting springs being adapted to yield and recoil when the cans strike them.

21. A can. aligning machine comprising an inclined can table having a trough structure providing a plurality of substantially parallel guide channels for the cans, can aligning rods projecting from said trough structure intermediate said channels, a plurality of can aligning springs mounted intermediate said channels, and means for reciprocating said .table for advancing the cans over the same along said channels whereby cans lying crosswise with respect to said channels will strike certain of said aligning rods and aligning springs and be straightened and shifted into said channels with their axes paralleling the same, said aligning rods extending substantially parallel to said channels and said aligning springs being adapted to yield and recoil when cans strike the same.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

EDWARD 'G. BAUER. 

